JV EJERCITO: CURRENT TAX PACKAGE IS PRO-GOVERNMENT, ANTI-CONSUMERS

While I support President Rodrigo Duterte's various programs such as infrastructure development, I cannot in my conscience support the comprehensive tax reform program being pushed by the Department of Finance as I see its current form as pro-government, but anti-consumers.

I cannot also see its intent to raise about 200-Billion pesos when the government still has almost 600-Billion unused appropriations in 2016.

Our economy is running well because it is consumer-driven. That is why am worried that the proposed taxes on petroleum and sweetened beverages might drastically affect our economy. If prices of commodities increase, this will have an adverse impact to the economy.